Statement Regarding Marxism Festival 2014 and the Socialist Workers Party

The Marxism Festival is the annual summer school event of the Socialist
Workers’ Party (SWP). Our rejection of this year's request to book rooms
at the University of London Union for Marxism Festival 2014 is due to
the fact that the Socialist Workers' Party has, over the last year,
proven itself to be a corrupt, rape apologist organisation which prides
itself in creating an unsafe space for young women. As elected officers –
like many others in the student movement – we see the SWP’s handling of
rape allegations against a senior member as a despicable denial of
sexism.

Here at ULU we have a clear policy which outlines a zero tolerance
stance against sexual harassment and violence. We believe survivors of
sexual harassment and aim to offer the best possible support we can.
Last year we were angered that the SWP was able to hold Marxism 2013
here but we didn't not have oversight on what type of organisations
hired out ULU. ULU is first and foremost a space for student
organisation and we aim to put the welfare of students first. We stated
that we were going to bring in measures to ensure that democratically
elected officers have powers over ULU conference bookings and we did.

At Marxism 2013, many students and mostly women activists, who attended
in order to protest against the SWP, were submitted to verbal and
physical abuse by members of the party. This only adds to our concerns
for the safety of students at ULU when the SWP is present. Furthermore,
criticism of the SWP leadership has been constantly silenced and
suppressed at every turn and often met with violent behaviour as well as
accusations that it is we who are sexist and sectarian.

The Socialist Workers' Party has tried to silence any activist within
the party who has tried to fight for justice for the women who have been
victims of sexual violence at the the hands of the leadership. Instead
of supporting those women, the SWP instead started a victim-blaming
campaign and protected the perpetrator. To quote a member of the SWP "we
aren't rape apologists unless we believe all women tell the truth, and
guess what some women and children lie".

To the SWP, we say that you are beyond help and progressive debate. You
are disgrace to the left and we have no wish to help support any growth
in your oppressive organisation. The bottom line is that you do not have
any right to use this space, you are not welcome here or anywhere near
our union and we will not be harassed by your organisation. As students
and activists, we stand united against sexism.